ThedaCare breaks ground for new Shawano hospital July 11

The facility, which will operate as ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, is expected to open by early 2015.

Shawano Medical Center and Appleton-based ThedaCare, which operates Appleton Medical Center and Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, affiliated in 2011. Building a replacement for the existing 82-year-old hospital was included as part of the agreement.

SMC's board of directors approved the $50 million project earlier this month and was approved by ThedaCare's board of directors on June 18.

The Shawano Medical Center Foundation launched a $1.5 million campaign to help cover construction costs. VandeWalle and Associates of Madison, a real estate planning firm, was hired to develop reuse recommendations for the old hospital after the new facility opens.